5 Most Advanced Countries in Asia

4. Hong Kong

Human Development Index Score: 0.952

R&D share in 2020 GDP: 0.99%

Hong Kong’s human development score is very high at 0.952 according to HDI Index for 2021-22. Hong Kong spent 0.99% of its GDP in 2020 on Research and Development. As such, it has a thriving startup ecosystem that grew by 12% in 2021 to 3,755 companies. 

Notable of these companies include Insilico, a machine-learning-based drug discoverer and biomarker developer, and Ascentage Pharma, which develops small-molecule drugs for Cancer treatment.